Suction Device For Liquids, In Particular Hydroentangling Machines

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a suction device for liquids in hydroentangling machines, in which more than one water bar, which generate jets of liquid, are allocated to the exterior of the suction device. The suction device consists of a suction tube comprising one or more axial suction openings for each water bar, said openings being located along the working length of the tube. The liquid is sucked from the allocated water bar through said openings as a result of the negative pressure that is created in the tube. According to the invention, the suction openings that extend over the entire working width are configured to be sealed in relation to each respectively allocated water bar.

The invention pertains to a suction device for liquids, in particular, in hydroentangling machines, in which more than one water bar for generating jets of liquid are allocated to the suction device, wherein said suction device consists of a suction tube with one or more axially oriented suction openings for each water bar that are arranged over the working length of the tube, and wherein the liquid is sucked from the allocated water bar through said suction openings as a result of the negative pressure being generated in the tube. A device of this type is known from EP-A-1 059 377 or WO 01/79598.

It is common practice to allocate several water bars to an entangling drum with internally arranged suction tube, wherein a suction slot in the suction tube that may also consist of several suction openings is allocated to each water bar. The suction tube is subjected to a negative pressure in order to carry off the sprayed-on liquid. The negative pressure acts upon all suction slots arranged in the suction tube. This means that a suction slot, the allocated water bar of which is switched off, is also subjected to the negative pressure. This leads to avoidable pressure losses.

The invention aims to develop a device that makes it possible to prevent the energy losses caused by existing water bars while they are switched off.

Based on a device of the initially cited type, this objective is attained in that the suction openings extending over the entire working width are configured such that they can be sealed relative to the respectively allocated-water bar. The sealing mechanism can be realized in different ways.

Several devices according to the invention are illustrated in the figures in an exemplary fashion. The figures show:

FIG. 1, a cross section through a drum for hydroentangling a web of endless fabric that only features one jets bar;

FIG. 2, a cross section through a shutter on the inner side of the suction tube;

FIG. 3, a top view of the shutter according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a cross section through another construction of a shutter;

FIGS. 5 a-c, other optional solutions that are respectively illustrated in the form of schematic cross sections;

FIGS. 6 a-b, a shutter that can be displaced along the axis of the suction slot, and

FIG. 7 a-b, a sealing rail that can be displaced laterally of the suction slot and extends over the length of the suction slot.

The suction device consists of a rotatably supported drum 1 that is permeable to liquids, wherein the material 2 to be entangled lies on this drum. Only one water bar 3 is arranged above and allocated to the drum 1, wherein water jets 4 are ejected from said water bar under high pressure and impinge on the material 2. Several corresponding water bars 3 could be arranged around the drum 1. The sprayed-on water needs to be respectively removed by suction immediately thereafter underneath the material 2. For this purpose, a suction tube 5 is stationarily supported centrally within the drum 1, wherein the wall of this suction tube contains suction bores 6 that are allocated to each water bar 3 along a surface line. Sliding strips 7, 8 for determining the width of the suction slot 9 are stationarily arranged radially outside the tube 5 parallel to the surface line on the left side as well as the right side of these bores 6.

The suction slot 9 should be realized such that it can be quickly sealed. The solution according to EP-A-1 059 377 features an exchangeable cleaning strip 9′ according to FIG. 7 a, in which the suction openings are arranged about centrally. In this case, the suction slot can be sealed by attaching a strip that lacks the suction openings, i.e., a massive shoe. However, this seal can only be produced while the machine is at a standstill.

FIG. 2 shows a suction tube 5, to the suction openings 6 of which is allocated a laterally displaceable shutter 10 arranged on the inner side of the tube 5. This shutter 10 is detachably held on the suction tube 5 by means of a bearing arrangement 11. The shutter is supported in a pivoted fashion by a plurality of articulated arms 12 according to FIG. 3 such that the shutter 10 is moved in the direction of the supporting block 11′ on the other side of the suction slot 6 when the articulated arms 12 are pivoted. This means that the suction slot 6 is sealed by the shutter 10. The actuation of the shutter movement is achieved with a pressure cylinder 13.

In the solution according to FIG. 4, the bearing arrangement 11 supports a shutter 10′ that can also be pivoted upward in the direction of the double arrow 14 and seals the suction slot 6 with a mating profile 11′. The actuation of the shutter 10′ can be realized with a pressure hose 15 that is held in the bearing arrangement 11 over the length of the suction slot 5. When this pressure hose is filled with compressed air, it expands and moves the shutter 10′ upward with the free end in order to seal the suction slot 6.

In a simpler solution that is schematically illustrated in FIG. 5 a, merely a longitudinal shutter 16 is provided on the inner side of the suction tube such that it can be moved upward in order to seal the opening 6 by means of a not-shown mechanism. FIG. 5 b again shows a hose that can be pressurized and is longitudinally arranged on one side of the slot 6, wherein this hose is moved against a supporting wall 18 on the other side of the slot after it is inflated with compressed air. However, a suction slot may also be sealed by coaxially arranging a sealing tube 19 on the inner side of the suction tube 5 such that it can be turned relative to the suction tube 5, wherein the sealing tube 19 contains through-openings 6′ that correspond to the arrangement of the auction slots 6 and cover the corresponding suction slot 6 after being turned accordingly.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show optional solutions that are arranged in the lateral walls 7, 8 of the suction slot 9. According to FIG. 6, a recess 20 for accommodating a pivoting mechanism is arranged in one of the walls 8. If applicable, this lever 21 is realized in a conical fashion and supported along the suction slot, wherein said lever can be pivoted along the axis of the suction slot. This can be achieved with the axially inner axis shown in FIG. 6 a or the axially outer axis shown in FIG. 6 b. The pivoting movement could be achieved electrically, but it would also be conceivable to realize other operating modes.

FIG. 7 shows a sliding mechanism. A sealing rail 22 is arranged perpendicular to the suction slot 9 radially inward of the cleaning strip 9′, namely in recesses 7′, 8′ arranged in the walls 7, 9 on both sides, wherein said sealing rail features a longitudinal through-slot 23 for the liquid removed by suction. Several piston unite 24 are longitudinally arranged over the sealing rail 22 to both sides thereof and preferably driven hydraulically in order to displace the rail 22 in the recesses 7′, S′, In the position shown, the suction slot 9 is sealed by the rail 22, wherein the function of the suction device is ensured by laterally displacing the rail toward the right such that the through-slot is positioned congruently with the suction slot 9. 

1. A suction device for liquids, in particular, in hydroentangling machines, in which more than one water bar (3) for generating jets of liquid are allocated to the suction device, wherein said suction device consists of a suction tube (5) with one or more axially oriented suction openings (6) for each water bar (3) that are arranged over the working length of the tube (5), and wherein the liquid is sucked from the allocated water bar (3) through said suction openings as a result of the negative pressure being generated in the tube (5), characterized in that the suction openings (6) extending over the entire working width are configured such that they can be sealed relative to a respectively allocated water bar (3).
 2. The suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal can be actuated during the operation of the device.
 3. The suction device according to claim 1 with a shoe that defines the suction gap and can be longitudinally inserted into the suction tube, characterized in that the shoe is closed, i.e., the shoe contains no suction openings.
 4. The suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing mechanism for the suction openings is provided on the inner side of the suction tube (5).
 5. The suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing mechanism is provided in the material of the wall/s that form/s the suction slot.
 6. The suction device according to claim 4, characterized in that the suction openings (6) can be sealed by a shutter (10, 10′, 16) that can be transversely moved over the suction openings.
 7. The suction device according to claim 6, characterized in that the shutter (10) is coupled to one aide of the suction slot (6) several times over the working length of the auction slot (6) and supported such that it can be displaced in a parallel fashion.
 8. The suction device according to claim 6, characterized in that the axis of the shutter (21) extends parallel to the suction slot (9) and the shutter is supported in a reciprocating fashion.
 9. The suction device according to claim 8, characterized in that the axis is arranged radially inward in the wall and the shutter extends radially outward (FIG. 6 a).
 10. The suction device according to claim 8, characterized in that the axis is arranged radially outward in the wall and the shutter extends radially inward (FIG. 6 b).
 11. The suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing mechanism can be actuated pneumatically (13, 15, 17).
 12. The suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing mechanism (22, 23) can be actuated hydraulically (24).
 13. The suction device according to claim 11, characterized in that the sealing mechanism can be actuated by an inflatable hose (15, 17) that is arranged along the suction slot (6).
 14. The suction device according to claim 13, characterized in that a shutter (10′) can be moved in front of the suction slot (6) by the hose (15).
 15. The suction device according to claim 13, characterized in that the hose (17) is arranged on one side of the suction slot (6) and can be inflated against a supporting wall (18) such that it is placed over the suction slot in order to seal the slot (6).
 16. The suction device according to claim 4, characterized in that a sealing tube (19) is coaxially arranged on the inner side of the suction tube (5) such the it can be turned relative to the suction tube (5), and in that the sealing tube (19) contains through-openings (6′) that correspond to the arrangement of the suction slots (6) and covers the corresponding suction slot (6) such that it is sealed after being turned accordingly.
 17. The suction device according to claim 5, characterized in that a sealing rail (22) with a through-slot (23) is arranged along the suction slot (9) in the walls (7, 8) of the suction slot (9) such that it can be laterally displaced back and forward, wherein the through-slot (23) is either aligned with the suction slot (9) or displaced and not aligned with the suction slot, i.e., the suction slot is covered and therefore sealed.
 18. The suction device according to claim 17, characterized in that several pressure pistons (24) are arranged over the length and to both sides of the sealing rail (22) and supported in the walls (7, 8) of the suction slot (9). 